WestEd's Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) offers the PITC Infant & Toddler Group Care Course online!
Contact: Tracy Johnson | tjohnso2@wested.org
Online Infant and Toddler Group Care Course Flyer
This course focuses on the Program for Infant/Toddler Care (PITC) approach to infant/toddler care and addresses in particular how to support healthy social-emotional development and learning in group care settings. Course topics include an exploration of different temperament tendencies; stages of social-emotional development; development of self-esteem, security and social competence; socialization and guidance, and program policies that best support the healthy social-emotional development; learning, culture and families. The course also covers early brain development and learning; discoveries of infancy; culture; partnerships with families; and best practices to support inclusive care.
Apply Here
Space is limited. Priority will be given to professionals working with children under 36 months of age in group care settings in California.
Submit your online application now to be considered for the next course. *** You will receive an email notification of your status within two weeks of submitting your application.
Upcoming coURSES:
- September 15, 2025 - February 1, 2026: Now accepting applications.
- January 20, 2026 - May 24, 2026
- May 4, 2026 - September 14, 2026
***Agencies/organizations may request additional courses for large groups of students. Additional coaching can be provided upon arrangement. Please contact us for further information.
Professionals working in a child care environment are the intended audience for this course. Priority will be given to those professionals currently caring for infants and toddlers in group care settings.
This is an asynchronous online course which means that there are no required 'live' class meetings. This online course runs for 19 weeks in total and students have access to the course at any time of the day or night; 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to complete the coursework.
As with any online course for academic credit, there is coursework due each week which includes the completion of readings, posting to discussions, quizzes, assignments, and job-embedded practice. It is the students responsibility to complete and submit the assigned weekly coursework and ensure that they stay current in the course.
The course includes the opportunity (not required) to join 5 live, virtual Zoom meetings, with the instructors and fellow students. These 5 optional Zoom meetings are held on weeknight evenings with extra credit points available for attendance.
The online platform that is used for this course is CANVAS and students must have regular access to a computer with internet connection.
This course will enable students to:
- Increase their knowledge and understanding of infant/toddler social-emotional development, language development, and perceptual and motor development;
- Gain the skills and knowledge to meet the individual needs of infants and toddlers in a group care setting;
- Gain skills to provide more inclusive care for all children and families;
- Increase their knowledge and understanding of how infants and toddlers learn and best ways to facilitate their learning; and
- Learn about the importance of culture and family in the development of the young child.
Participants who successfully complete the course will be eligible for three units through California State University, Fresno. Completion of the course may be used toward CCTC Professional Growth Hours and QIS requirements.*
*Please note that the PITC Online Infant & Toddler Group Care Course is not the PITC Trainer Institute and does not qualify participants to obtain PITC Trainer certification.
Includes all course materials, required readings, 24/7 access to the online course, and enrollment fees for three units of academic credit. Enrollment fees are non-refundable even in the case of drop or withdrawal from the course.
- California participants working in a group care setting 20+ hours/week with children 0-36 months: $225.00**
- All other participants: $975.00
**Verification of California residency will be required prior to enrollment.
"I gained invaluable insights and am eager to apply everything I learned in my role as both a caregiver and teacher. The class was clear, focused, and easy to follow, and I truly enjoyed reading my classmates ideas and shared experiences. It was enlightening to see their unique perspectives on various topics."
"The course was highly informative, providing valuable knowledge that I can directly apply in my work with children. I learned a lot of practical skills and strategies that will enhance my ability to support and engage with them effectively."
"I really enjoyed how I was able to directly put in practice what I had learned in this course. For example when we were learning about students with challenging behaviors, I was able to implement what I had learned, which was to look at the bigger picture and analyze the root problems of the child's behavior. I was able to de-escalate one of many future situations."